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FishHawk Anti-Gang Workshop Scheduled At Newsome High

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By LAURA FRAZIER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 12, 2009

LITHIA - It's a scene they don't want to see played out again on the nature trails in FishHawk Ranch or anywhere else in the community:

Two boys and two girls walking along a path in their neighborhood are jumped, beaten, threatened with a knife, chased down and robbed on Jan. 4. Four Valrico teenagers are later arrested and charged in the crime and identified by authorities as members of the Latin Kings gang.

In response to the attack, a gang-awareness workshop is scheduled for March 24 at Newsome High School, said Debbie Edwards, president of the school's Parent Teacher Student Association.

A number of sheriff's deputies who serve as school resource officers, including Newsome's Mike Alonso, will teach residents of all ages how to identify and report to the authorities suspected gang activity, gear and graffiti.

"We know that gangs cannot exist without members and that they prey upon and recruit vulnerable children," Edwards said. "Our children need us to be informed in order to protect them from this unsavory element."

The workshop, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Newsome, 16550 FishHawk Blvd., is open to parents, students and the general public.

"We have such a great community with great schools, parents, administrators and kids, and we want to keep it that way," Edwards said. "We need everyone's eyes and ears to protect our community and our children."

For information, contact Edwards at (813) 385-0009 or edwrk@aol.com.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

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